China will get Lotus SUV first
British car-maker says it is racing to get SUV ready for wealthy Chinese buyers, by 2019. We’ll only see it five years laterLotus has announced that its new first ever SUV will be launched in 2019 but only go on sale in China.
The revelation that the new crossover will initially only go on sale in the Far East was made by Lotus CEO, Mark Gales, in an interview with British car magazine, Auto Express.
Gales also reaffirmed his firm’s commitment that its first ever SUV would be lighter and faster than all its rivals and be “better” than Porsche’s Macan.
According to the Lotus boss, the new SUV will only go on sale in other markets if it has been deemed a success in China and Europe and other global markets might have to wait five years before it’s reengineered for other markets.
“The first market will be China but we haven’t yet decided if it will be sold anywhere else. But obviously if the car is a success there – and I strongly believe it will – we will go outside of China.” Said Gales.
Earlier this year Lotus’ parent company signed a joint venture with a Chinese manufacturing company to press ahead with the project.
Lotus’ CEO also confirmed he is keen to continue the partnership with engine-supplier Toyota but for it to be sold in Europe, Gales says his SUV would “have to be offered with a diesel engine”. With the Japanese car-preference to focus its engineering might on hybrids and fuel cell technology instead of diesel, it might force Toyota to source a diesel from another car-maker.
Last month Lotus Australia and New Zealand general manager, Glen Sealey, confirmed to motoring.com.au the new Lotus SUV, which is yet to be named but will start with an 'E' like its current stable of sports cars (Evora, Exige, Elise) and that the new SUV will be a game changer for the brand.
According to Sealey, company founder Colin Chapman wouldn't be shocked at the prospect of a top-heavy wagon.
"I'm all for anything that allows a brand like Lotus to survive. If we sit here today and look back 15 years at Porsche, the company would be dead without an SUV today. It leads to more investment in other models, like the sports cars.”
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
